Laws, Orders, Regulations & Guidance

Governmentwide laws, orders, and regulations direct the management and operation of federal real property assets. Some common issues addressed are:

Acquisition of Parking Facilities

Alternative Financing

Automated External Defibrillators

Delegated Leasing Authority

Smoking in Federal Buildings

Acquisition of Parking Facilities

Agencies with need for parking must first inquire with GSA regional offices about the availability of government-controlled space. If no suitable government-controlled parking is available from GSA, an agency may use its own procurement authority to acquire parking by service contract.

Alternative Financing

Alternative Financing is a means of using private-sector resources (i.e. capital, education, and skills) to provide service at a cost savings to the public.

About 107 federal projects are completed, underway, or planned using Alternative Financing. The following agencies have the authority to use Alternative Financing:

Department of Defense

Department of Veterans Affairs

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

United States Postal Service

Automated External Defibrillators

An Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is a device used to administer an electric shock through the chest wall to the heart. Built-in computers assess the patient's heart rhythm, judge the need for defibrillation, and then administer the shock.

Agencies can acquire AEDs from the Department of Veterans Affairs National Acquisition Center, which administers the Federal Supply Schedule for medical unit items. Agencies can obtain more information concerning the purchase of AEDs from the National Acquisition Center at 708-786-7737 and via the Department of Veterans Affairs Federal Supply Schedule website [www.fss.va.gov]

Delegated Leasing Authority

An agency may only use the GSA lease delegated authority to acquire general purpose space after receiving specific written authorization from the Assistant Commissioner, Office of Real Estate Acquisition, General Services Administration, 1800 F Street, Washington, DC 20405. See FMR Bulletin 2008-B1 published in the Federal Register (November 19, 2007 page 65026-65030) for guidance.

Smoking in Federal Buildings

The President's Executive Order 13058, "Protecting Federal Employees and the Public from Exposure to Tobacco Smoke in the Federal Workplace," establishes a smoke-free environment for federal employees and members of the public visiting or using federal facilities.